Buying in Ashford Kent, Advice Please

whiskywhisky

With the trains I would look carefully as to where you want to travel.

Ashford "International" routes are dying, the plan is to move this type of travel to Ebsfleet International station.

puddy

that is true, but apparently i heard there were plans to open up those routes again because of public demand. i think they only left either 3 a day or 3 a week international services from ashford and they are going to increase that now

Debt_Free_Chick

whiskywhisky wrote: »

With the trains I would look carefully as to where you want to travel.

Ashford "International" routes are dying, the plan is to move this type of travel to Ebsfleet International station.

Only the Eurostar routes. The commuter routes will stay and, at times, will use the new high-speed track for part of the journey. More info on South Eastern Railway

Debt_Free_Chick

i4U wrote: »

OK. I now live in London. I chose Ashford, as I need to be able to commute in London. I am always open to suggestions and ideas. I have been to Ashford twice. But haven't really spent much time there. Couple of hours visiting someone.

I live 5 minutes from Canary Wharf London, so you can imagine, the housing estates in Ashford seem quite to me

My ideal would be a secluded area. I prefer not to be in a housing estate. At the same time. I need to be able to commute to London by train.

I really think you need to spend more time in Ashford. Many, many people find it has a lot to offer. Many others find it a little lacking in .... er ..... culture or "fine" living. It really depends on what you want.

Ashford is one of the main towns near to where I live - the others being Tunbridge Wells & Hastings. If I want John Lewis, Fenwick & Hoopers (wonderful department store) - I go to TW. If I want Poundland, Matalan & Asda I go to Ashford. M&S, Debenhams - Hastings, as it's closest.

The villages around Ashford are nice - as already posted. But I suspect the smaller villages wouldn't suit you. They are very undeveloped and rural, rather than suburban, despite their proximity to Ashford. The larger villages/towns like Tenterden & Cranbrook might be an ideal compromise for you. You really need to spend some time in and around Ashford. You're going to struggle to get 4 beds in Tenterden or Cranbrook though.

Look at the commute carefully. Ashford is about 1hr 20mins - although the high speed trains are claiming to slash that time to under 40 mins :eek: Do your research though, because I have a feeling that the fast trains will go into St Pancras - where in London do you work? Canary Wharf? If so, that won't be a pleasant trip - Northern Line to Bank & DLR or to London Bridge and Jubilee.

If you chose to live in Tenterden or Cranbrook, you'd need to factor in a drive to Headcorn or Staplehurst for the train (there's no point driving to Ashford as you'd be travelling down the line, only to then travel back up on the train!). There's a daily commuter coach from Tenterden to Headcorn, though. It probably works out cheaper than the cost of petrol + parking, if you drive.

Again, though, around Staplehurst & Headcorn, property tends to be more expensive as the commute is more bearable - about 1hr from London Bridge. Good parking at both stations too - but around £4 a day :eek:

You will really need to do your research on commuting - the cost of as well as the time. It's no fun Nov-Feb when you travel to and from work in the dark

You need to define your needs/wants together with your dislikes and then spend plenty of time in and around Ashford and any other villages/towns that seem to fit the bill.

Good luck

Entertainer

Why Ashford in particular? It's quite a long way from London as others have said there are closer places in north, mid or west Kent which you can commute from. Is it budget?

Look, here's a four bed in Sevenoaks for you- they might take offers :T.....

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-21198379.html?locationIdentifier=REGION^1191&sortByPriceDescending=false&pageNumber=10&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DREGION%255E1191%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26index%3D90

i4U

My main interest in Ashford or near by was because of two reasons:

a) You could get a property at reasonably good prices
b) I heard about the Ashford International link and the so called "Hitachi Bullet Trains" cutting the journey time into London to 32 minutes.

Have I got this wrong - are you saying that this fast rail link into London won't happen anymore?

All those who have made suggestions about good places near Ashford, thank you.

matty17r

I don't think your get a four bed detached in a village near Ashford for 270,000. In my opinion, property prices have not dropped a lot in Ashford compared to everywhere else. One family member has put a deposit down on a new build but they had to haggle a lot to get discount. Orchard Heights,
Singleton, Godinton Park and Highfield are all nice estate imo and your get more house for your money than in surrounding villages which are very pricey. Hope this helps.

vixarooni

what about canterbury? down the road a bit from ashford and alot nicer.

i4U

Yes, I looked at Canterbury. I have spent time there when I was in my teens. And from what I remember it was a really nice town. But isn't Canterbury much more expensive? Is Canterbury further down from London?

In the long term, I would be looking to work partly from home and come into London couple of times a week. However, for the short term I would probably need to come down to London 5 days, at least for the next year or two. Although I have a small family, I need space to work, so that's why I am looking at 4 Bed.

vixarooni

Canterbury is further away, but it has better shopping and its not as rough or yucky. I suppose you gotta weigh up where you want to live in accordance with a commute. Will you be spending more time of your life communting or being at home? Canterbury has two train stations, i suppose it takes like an hour and a half train time to london whenever i go there... guess it depends on what part your going to obviously.

decisions decisions eh!